Locking device.



LIT. RHOADES. LOCKING DEVICE.

APPucATloN man Mln/28.1917.

@mmm Nom 2'?, 1917 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- www L I.. I. RHOADES.

LOCKING DEVICE.

I APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. I9I7. lm L, mmm Nw.. 27, mi

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L @Ms "'lEWlIS ill'. DADES, 0F MONT CLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOF. llO NEW wenn corn CMPANY, IENCORATED, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

lLOCmNGi IIDEVIICE.

astenia.

Speollneatton of tetters Patent.

Patented Nov.. 2t', ltti'f..

To all lwtom t concern.'

Be it known that l, LEWIS T. RHoAnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mont Clare, in the county of Montgomery t and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking Devices, of which the following is a specication.

My invention consists of an improved locking device which is articularly adapted for preventing the thefli of automobiles.

@ne object of my invention is to provide a locking device which will prevent an unauthorized person from operatively connecting the engine with the driving gear, but which will not lock theroad wheels or steering means. Illhus, while my invention locks the automobile against movement by the engine, it will permit the automobile to be moved ashort distance by hand if such a contingency arises, such for example` asa lire in the garage, or the .building in front of which the automobile is standing.

Another object is to so make my invention that it can be easily and quickly moved and applied in its operative position and when not desired for locking purposes, can be moved and securely held in an inoperative position and in readiness to be again moved into an operative position and applied without the vemployment of' a key, the key only being necessary to unlock the device from its locln'ng position. A further object is to so make my invention that it will be free of any exposed parts which could be out, loosened, or removed by a thief.

A still further object is to so construct my invention that it will be particularly adapted for locking connection with transmission levers of various shapes and sizes.

rlhese objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, lf

attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a top plan view of my improved locking device showing it secured to the supporting structure, such` as the heel board of an automobile seat, a fragment of the heel board being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the lock casing taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

is screwed on the lug Fig. 4c is a section through the lock casing taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 7 7 of Fig. l.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the retaining means for the lock casing.

Fig. 9 is a front view of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating how my improved locking device prevents the operation` of the transmission lever.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating my improved locking device in an inoperative position.

Referring to the drawings, l represents the base or heel board of an automobile seat square nuts 7 which bind the disk to theouter surface of the board l. A lug 8 is either made integral with the disk 2 orsecurely held within a eountersunk opening in said disk as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. This lug 8, at its outer end, is screwthreaded and designed to screw within a tapped hole 9 in a recessed cap l0. The cap 10 has a recess 1l which, when the cap 8, forms a housing or inclosure for the lug 8 and the nuts 7, thus preventing the manipulation of said nuts.

The inner diameter of the recess ll is such that the nuts 7 are prevented from turning when the cap l0 has been screwed on the lug 8 as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 clearly shows the position of the nuts 7 with respect to the inner diameter of the recess ll so that the bolts will not become loosened v lid titi

tot

-right angles tov the plane of the licor as clearl illustrated in Figs. 2, 10, and 11.

Av ar 13 has an eye 14 through which the staple 12 freel passes so that said bar is free to pivot an freely move around said staple. The bar 13, at its free end, extends through a casing 15. This casing is preferably made of' ductile metal and has a cover 16 which fits within a recess 17 and rests on a ledge 18 forming the bottom of said recess.

The upper edge ofthe cover 16 is beveled.

or chamfered as shownl at 19and after the cover has been inserted within said recess, the edge portion 20 of the casing 15 is bent or compressed over the beveled edge of the cover as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 7, thus securely locking the cover tothe casing. The bar 13 has a series of'holes 21 extending transversely therethrough and any one of these holes is capable of being engaged by a screw 22 having its head projecting entirely within the casing 15 and its opposite end fitting a threaded hole 23 in the casing l5.

,The screw 22 is preferably made of such length that it will not entirely pass. through to the outer surface of the casing 15 and the outer portion of the screw hole in the casing can be covered with sealing material 24, so that the butt end of the screw will not be exposed.

By the provision of the holes 21 in the bar 13, the casing 15 can besecured to the bar 13 at various distances from the heel board 1 for a purpose hereinafter described. The casing 15 is entirely closed with the exception of an openin 25 provided between the end 26 of a rib 2 and the side portion 28 of the casing. This opening is designed to permit the'free end 29 of a hasp 30 to move therein. The hasp 30 has its end 31 pivoted between two ears '32 and 33 respectively formed on the bottom of the casing 15 and the cover 16.

The hasp 30 is of a width substantially equal to the distance between the inner surfaces of the cover 16 and the bottom ofthe casing 15, so that when the end 29 of the hasp is within the opening 25, it completely closes said opening against the insertion of a tool or other instrument.

The opening 25 is in alinement with the -screw 22 so that when the hasp is open, a

screw-driver can be inserted through the opening 25 to remove the screw 22 if it is desired to change the position of the casing on the bar 13. However, when the hasp is in its locked position, the opening 25 will be closed against the insertion of any instrument as previouslv stated and the screw 22 Cannot be actuated.

The cover 16 and the bottom of the casing 15 are provided with V-shaped recesses 34 and 35 respectively and the rib 27 also has \end.

an inwardl dipped portion 36 which registers with t e recesses 34 and 35.

The hasp 30 has an outwardly curved portion 37 which bridges the recesses 34, 35, and dipped A portion 36 of the rib 27 as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

IThe end 29 of the hasp 30 is also curved, the curvature bein substantially in the arc of a circle having lts c enter coincident with the pivotal axis of the hasp. The extreme inner end 38 of the hasp 30 is provided with a pluralityv of notches 39 arranged at increasing distances inwardly from the free ny of these notches is capable of being engaged by a bolt `40 which is slidably: mounted in two lugs 41 which are spaced apart and extend inwardly from the cover 16. The end 42 of the bolt is beveled and a coiled spring 43 is interposed between one of the lugs 41 and a shoulder 44 on said bolt so as to move the bolt in a forward direction andv to hold the bolt into en-` gagement with a respective notch 39.

A lock 45 is secured within the cover 16, and this lock can be of any desirable construction of the rotatable barrel type. The casing 46 of the lock is preferably provided with a lug 47 designed to t within a groove 48 in the cover 16 to prevent rotation of the casing when the barrel of the lock is rotated by the insertion of theproper key.

A tongue 49 is rotatable in conjunction with the barrel of the lock and is designed to engage a finger 50 which is secured to the bolt 40 so that a rotation of said tongue 49 will slide the bolt 40 longitudinally against the action of the spring 43 to release the end 29 of the hasp 30.

A torsion spring 51 is mounted between the ears 32 and 33 and serves to move the hasp 30 into an open position when released by the bolt 40. The hasp 30 is designed .to secure the transmission lever 52 to the casing 15, the bar- 13 being swung into position so as to locate the transmission lever within the V-shaped recesses 34 and 35. The hasp 30 can then be swung on its pivot to embrace the transmission lever and the bolt 40 will move into the notch which is in its path of movement.

By this arrangement of the V-shaped recesses and the outwardly curved portion 37 of the Ahasp 30, the device accommodates itself to transmission levers of various sizes and cross sections, the lever being snugly held between the V-shaped recesses and the portion 37 of the hasp 30.

To guard against movement of the casing 15 llengthwise of the transmission lever 52, I provide outwardly extending fianges 53 and 54. These flanges provide an extended bearing in line with the V-shaped recesses 34 and 35 and serve to bind against the transmission lever to prevent sliding movement ofthe casing 15 lengthwise of said lever, thus preventing the movement of the transmission lever `to amdegree sucient to throw the gears into operative connection with the engine.

To remove the casing 15 from the transmission lever, it is merely necessary to insert the proper key within the lock and turn the same until the tongue 49 moves the bolt-40 out of engagement with the hasp 30. rI`he torsion spring 51 will then move the hasp into an -open positionl to free the transmission lever.

In order to secure'the device in an inoperative position and out of the way of the driver, I provide a retaining member 55 `which is of V-shape cross section, substantially corresponding to the contour of the recesses 34 and 35 in the casing. 15 above mentioned. f

The retaining member 55 has an end portion 56 provided with a bolt hole 57 Whereby it can be secured to the heel board 1 at a distance from the disk 2 and cap 10 to permit the casing 15 and bar 13 to be swung into a position under the' seat and so that the retaining member 55 will project between the casing 15 and the hasp 30.

The lower portion of the retaining member is provided witha leaf spring 58 Which is secured by a rivet or other suitable means 59, the opposite end 60 of said spring being free to slide under the forward end 61 of .the retaining member 55. The portion of the' spring intermediate of its lends is bowed downwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 8 and is designed to be engaged by the inner, surface of the portion 37 of the hasp 30, thus 4 preventing the notched end 290i' the hasp from moving suiciently far within the casing to be engaged by the bolt 40.

The retaining member 55. is positioned close to the floor so that when the casing is mounted thereon, the spring 58 will serve both to prevent the hasp from moving into a locked position, and also to prevent noise due to vibration.

The torsion spring 51 will also act to move the outer surface of the-portion 37 of the hasp 30 into engagement with the floor.v

Thus, the device will be firmly held-in an inoperative position and when required for use, it is merely necessary to pull the casing 15 of of the retaining rnember 55 to release the hasp 30 and the ybar 13 vcan then be swung on the staple 12 to bring the casing 15 into engagement with the transmission lever where it will be locked by pressing the hasp 30 to move the end 29 within the casing to be engaged by the bolt 40.

Since the transmission lever cannot be moved to eli'ect the movement of the transmission gears, it is impossible when thel device is in its locked position to connect the engines power with the drive wheels. By preventing the hasp from engaging the bolt the transmission lever, thus the retaining 7o A member performs a double purpose. It retains'thecasing and barl in an inoperative Iposition, and prevents the locking of the asp.

By providing the holes 21 in the bar 13,

the casing 15v can be secured to said bar at I various distances-from the heel board 1 in order to fit against transmissionlevers which are at various distances from the heel board,

since in various makes of automobiles the distance from the transmission lever to the heel board varies. It will be further noted that when the casing 15 is locked on the transmission lever, it is impossible to rotate the cap 10 for the reason that the' bar 13 is secured against rotation relatively to the casing 15 by the screw 22. Thus, the device cannot be detached from the disk 2 when in a locked position.

It will be evident that my invention is applicable due to its novel construction to all makes of cars Without resorting to the weakening of the lever such as would be caused by boring holes therein, and such would be necessary if the lock was litted directly thereto.

Furthermore, since the lock is not connected to the transmission lever when the car is being driven, the possibility of interfering with the ready operation of the lever is obviated. Y I v While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be lchanged Without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Iletters Patent is:

1. The combination with an automobile, of an' operating lever, a supporting structure, independent locking means including a lock casing, a hasp adapted to secure the lever to the casing, a retaining member secured to the supporting structure, said cas- 12o ing being designed to be swung over said retaining member to permit the latter to eX- tend between the casing and the hasp, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an automobile, of an operating lever, a supporting structure, independent locking means including a lock casing having a portion designed to engage the lever, a hasp adapted to secure the lever to said portion of the casing, a retainle@ Bill gli)

ing member secured to the supporting structure, said casing being designed to be swung into a position to permit the retaining member to extend between said portion and the hasp, locking means in said casing for engagement with the hasp, and means on said retaining member designed to hold said hasp out of engagement with the locking means, substantially as described.

3. The combination with an automobile, of an operating lever, independent locking means including a lock casing, a hasp adapted to secure the lever to the casing, a retaining member secured to said supporting structure above but nea-r the floor of the automobile, said casing being designed to be swung into a position to permit the retaining member to extend between the casing and the hasp, locking means in said casing for engagement with the hasp, and a spring designed to hold said hasp out of locking engagement with the locking means of the casing and in engagement with the Hoor, substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination with an automobile, of an operating lever, a supporting structure, bolts extending through the supporting structure and having portions preventing their rotation in said supportin structure, a member secured to the supportin' structure by the nuts of the bolts` said mem r having a. lugprojecting therefrom, a cap designed to be secured to said lug, said cap having a recess into which the nuts of the boltsextend, attaching means on said cap, a bar movably connected to the attaching means, and locking means carried by said bar and desi ed to be locked to said lever, substantially as described.

5. The combination with an automobile, of an operating lever, a supporting structure, a bar movably connected to said supporting structure, and having a series of holes therein, a locking casing adapted to be secured to said lever, and means in said casing capable of passing into any of said holes to secure the casing to the bar at various distances from the supporting structure, substantially as described.

6. The combination with an automobile, of an operating lever, a supporting structure, independent locking means including a lock casing having a substantially V-shape recessed portion designed to embrace the lever, a hasp adapted to secure the lever within said recess, a retaining member secured to the supporting structure, said casing being designed to be swung over said retaining member'to permit the latter to extend between the recessed portion and the hasp, substantially as described.

7. The combination with anautomobile, of an operating lever, a supporting structure, independent locking means including a lock casing having a substantially V-shape mesnil recessed portion desi ed to embrace the lever, a hasp adapte to secure the lever within said recess, a retaining member secured to the supporting structure, said casing being designed to be swung over said retaining member to permit the latter to extend between the recessed hasp, locking means in sai casing for engagement with the hasp, and means on said retaining member'designed to hold said hasp out of engagementA with the locking means, substantially as described.

8. The combination with an automobile, of an operating lever, independent locking means including a lock casing having a subortion and the.

stantially V-shape recessed portion designed to embrace the lever, a hasp adapted to secure the lever within said recess, a retaining member secured to said supporting structure above but near the Hoor of the automobile, said casing being designed to be swung over the retaining member. to permit the latter to extend between said recessed portion and the hasp, locking means in said casing for engagement with the hasp, and a spring designed to hold said hasp out of locking engagement with the locking means and in engagement with the floor, substantially as described.

9. The combination with an automobile, of an operating lever, a supporting structure, independent locking means including a lock casing having a substantially V-shape recessed portion designed to embrace the lever, a hasp adapted to secure the lever within said recess, a retaining member secured to the supporting structure, said casing being designed to be swung over said retaining member to permit the latter to extend between the recessed portion and the hasp, said retaining member being -substantially V- shape in cross section and corresponding to the shape of the recess in the casing, substantiallyT as described.

10. The combination with an automobile, of an operating lever, a supporting structure, bolts extending through the support- -ing structure and havin portions preventing their rotation in sai supporting structure, a member secured to the supporting structure by the nuts of the bolts, said member having a threaded lug projecting therefrom, a cap designed to be screwed on said lug, said cap having a recess into which the nuts of the bolts extend, attaching means on said cap, a bar movably connected to the attaching means, and locking means c arried by said bar and designedl to be locked to said lever, substantially as described.

11. The combination with an automobile, of an operating lever, a supporting structure, bolts extending through the supporting structure and having portions preventing their rotation in said supporting structure, a member secured to the supporting structure by the nuts of the bolts, said member having a threaded lug projecting therefrom, a cap designed to be screwed on said lug, said cap having a recess into which the nuts of the bolts extend, a staple having its ends secured within said cap, a bar having an eye through which the staple extends, and locking means carried by said bar and designed to be secured to said lever, substantially as described.

12. The combination with an automobile, of an operating lever, a supporting structure, bolts extending through the supporting structure and having portions preventing their rotation in said supporting structure, a member secured to the supportingstructure by the nuts of the bolts, said meinber having a threaded lug projecting therefrom, a cap designed to be screwed on said lug, said cap having a recess into which the nuts of the lbolts extend, said nuts having angularly disposed surfaces, the inner surface of said recessed cap being designed to be moved in close proximity to said surfaces of the nuts to prevent their accidental rotation when the cap is in place, attaching means on said cap, a bar movably connected to the attaching means, and locking means carried by said bar and Adesigned to be locked to said lever, substantially as described.

13. A locking device of the character described including a casing having a recess therein, a hasp movably secured to the casing and to bridge said recessed portion, said casing having an opening therein through which one end of the hasp can be moved, a bar extending into said casing, said easing having a threaded hole in alinement with said opening, said bar having a hole through which a screw can be inserted and screwed into said threaded hole in the casing, substantially as described.

14. A locking device of the character described including a casing having a recess therein, a hasp movably secured to the casing and to bridge said recessed portion, said casing having an opening therein through which one end of the hasp can be moved, a bar extending into said casing, said casing having a threaded hole in alinement with said opening, said bar having a series of holes extending transversely thereof, and a screw designed to be be inserted through any of said holes and screwed into the threaded hole in the casing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEWlS T. RHOADES.

Witnesses:

JOSE lE. lDUGAN, MAE FITZGERALD. 

